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3 arrested after traffic stop leads to $100,000 meth seizure

A traffic stop in Douglas County led officials to an estimated $100,000 in methamphetamine, other drugs and weapons.

Clint Dewayne Ayers (Credit: Hall County Sheriff's Office)

After stopping a Chevrolet Tahoe on Wednesday, Deputy M. Atkins immediately recognized the passenger, Clint Dewayne Ayers, as a person known to possess and distribute methamphetamine in and around the county, police spokesman Sgt. Jesse Hambrick said in a news release.

Ayers, 38, acted nervously during the stop, so Atkins requested the assistance of a canine officer to perform a “free air sniff” of the vehicle, which led to a pound of meth under Ayers’ seat, Hambrick said.

Michael Bryan Rochester (Credit: Hall County Sheriff's Office)

They quickly learned the Tahoe had earlier been at the home of 40-year-old Michael Bryan Rochester, who was already under suspicion after an anonymous tip alerted authorities that he may be distributing drugs, Hambrick said.

A search of Rochester’s residence and property netted the seizure of another 1.6 pounds of meth, an undisclosed amount of marijuana possessed with the intent to distribute and more than two dozen Xanax tablets.

Ayers and Rochester both face trafficking meth charges and Rochester also faces charges in connection with the other drugs and weapons, Hambrick said.

Valerie Hope Bennet, who was at the residence at the time the search warrant was executed, was arrested and charged in connection with possession of a small amount of Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, and a syringe, Hambrick said.